Orchids can be grown in a greenhouse.You can imitate an orchid's natural environment by controlling the climate in a greenhouse.Appropriate care for your greenhouse and orchids is involved.Monitoring the temperature, humidity, and lighting of your greenhouse can help you create a perfect home for your orchids.Orchids will thrive if you water and feed them consistently.
Step 1: The right size is chosen.
It is better to build a greenhouse that is at least 14 ft wide by 20 ft long.This will allow your orchid collection to grow and allow you to display it with benches and other materials.In the long run, this will save you money because you don't have to add extensions.
Step 2: Pay attention to the light.
It's important that your greenhouse gets consistent light with at least 6 hours of sun per day.It should not be installed near trees or buildings that provide a lot of shade.It is more expensive to add light than it is to reduce it with window coverings.The sun travels across the entire length of the greenhouse when it is facing north to south.A greenhouse professional can help with this.If you need artificial lighting, fluorescent lights are the most economical.It is possible to get ones that are 2 ft wide by 4 ft long to provide adequate lighting.Use a mix of cool white and warm white tubes as bulbs because they are bright and inexpensive.You can get them for a low price.Gro-Lux tubes are more expensive than natural sunlight.The price is around $60.Orchids can get sunburnt if the windows of your greenhouse are not whitewashed.Whitewash can be painted onto windows.It is usually made with a hydrated lime solution.If you no longer want whitewashing, it can be removed.It will allow light to enter without being too hot.
Step 3: There are benches to display orchids.
You can use benches that are 30 in (76.2 cm) tall by 33 in (83.8 cm).You can double the width if you put a bench in the center of the room.The benches should be made out of treated lumber, aluminum, or steel.Make sure the air circulates through the benches.Adding aluminum mesh or redwood/cypress strips can be done.This will allow adequate drainage and allow for air circulation.Hanging displays and wall mounts are good options if you need more space for orchids.They add interest by creating different levels of height.This will allow you to be surrounded by your orchids.
Step 4: Keep an eye on the temperature.
During the day, orchids need temperatures of 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit (15.5-26.6 degrees C) and at night, 45-65 degrees.In order to grow orchids in a greenhouse, the temperatures need to be maintained.You can keep track of the temperature in your greenhouse.Although it may be possible to get away with slightly higher night temperatures, never exceed the higher day temperatures or the orchids will not cope well.If you want to grow orchids from different climates, you need to divide your greenhouse.If you live in an area that gets colder than 45 degrees, you should have a heating system.You can use any kind of heating system.If you live in a warm climate, you will need a cooling system.Ventilating is able to regulate temperature on warm days.
Step 5: Venting should be adjusted.
Orchids come from areas with consistent, gentle winds.It's important to allow your orchids to thrive.Ceiling fans can be used to provide appropriate air flow.Keep the fans clean.You can change the speed of the ceiling fans.Oscillating fans can cover large areas without drying out orchids.Vents on the side and roof can be used for increased air flow.There is a simple way to improve the flow of air.
Step 6: The humidity should be modified.
Orchids need humidity to grow well.The Humidity should be between 50 and 80 percent.Increasing the number of orchids will increase the humidity.A humidifier can be used if your greenhouse isn't humid enough.If you don't know the humidity levels of your greenhouse, you can buy a hygrometer from a home improvement store and adjust your humidity accordingly.
Step 7: You can choose a pot.
A clear pot can be used to monitor root progress.Three gallon pots allow enough space for the roots to grow.Excess water and mineral can escape if the pot has drainage holes.The terracotta pots at garden shops can be found with an orchid pot.
Step 8: Each orchid needs to be filled with a medium.
Use moss, bark, coconut fiber, sifted perlite, granular charcoal, cork, or rockwool.The purpose of the medium is to hold the plant up.The soil can damage orchids.Buy an orchid medium at the store.
Step 9: You can plant the orchid.
Put the orchid on top of the medium and fill the pot with it.Keep the orchid in place by packing it tightly.The same method is used to replant orchids.
Step 10: Start with orchids that are easier to grow.
Orchids are easier to grow.Start growing Cattleyas, Phalaenopsis, Paphiopedilums and Cymbidiums.They are among the least difficult.Most people know that cattleyas are a standard orchid.They like the average day and night temperatures of 65 and 62 degrees.west and south facing windows give them the best light levels because they like a lot of light.
Step 11: Make sure to pay attention to your orchids.
Your orchids' leaves are a good indicator of their health.If they don't get enough light, leaves will be dark green and will not flower.The distance between leaves will usually increase.If caught early, leaf damage won't destroy the plant, but will serve as an indicator to change conditions.If your orchids are getting too much light, their leaves will turn yellow-green or reddish.If they are overheating, the leaves can get sunburned.
Step 12: When wet.
It is time to water your orchids when the potting medium is dry.They should be checked on a daily basis.This is another sign that they need more water.Don't over water orchids.They like being dry over being wet.Make sure your pot has adequate drainage holes.Make sure your water doesn't have too many dissolved salts and that it has a neutral or slightly lower pH.It should not be more than 25 parts per million.In caring for orchids, quality water is important.If you want the best results, mist your orchid with water.
Step 13: It's a good idea to applyfertilizer.
If you want the best results, consider using a water-solublefertilizer.It depends on the type of medium you use.The water should be added to the water every three or four waterings.The pot should be flushed and the mineral build up removed after the fourth watering.A 3-1-1 ratio of nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium is needed for bark.The orchid can't use urea-based nitrogen.A 1-1-1 ratio is used for charcoal-perlite.
Step 14: The flowers need to be cleaned up.
Cut the ends of the stems when the orchid is done growing.They will be able to grow in the future.It is best to wait if you don't know if it is done blooming, because certain kinds of orchids produce a second crop of flowers.
Step 15: You should be aware of the temperature requirements of your orchids.
To replicate the right temperature for your type of orchid, you need to know what climate region it comes from.If you want to mix orchids, try to stick with one temperature region.Cool, intermediate, and warm are the main climate types for orchids.Cool climate orchids have a minimum winter night temperature of 45o F (7o C) and a maximum summer night temperatures of 57oF (14oC).These orchids have a minimum winter night temperature of 50o F (10o C) and a maximum summer night temperatures of 64oF (18oC).Warm climate orchids like a minimum winter night temperature of 57o F (14o C) and a maximum summer's night temperatures of 72oF (22oC).
Step 16: Orchids arepotted every two years.
The roots will be restricted due to the break down of the medium.Remove the orchid from the pot, as well as any dead roots, to make room for a new orchid.Add a plant, fill your pot with a medium, and cover it with more medium.Press the medium down so the plant can be supported.You can reuse the plant in the same pot.If your orchid has grown too large, it's time to move it to a bigger pot.Don't go too large or the potting medium will dry too slowly if you try the next size up.
Step 17: Prepare greenhouse orchids for growth.
During the winter months, orchids go into a resting period.When the first growth shows in spring, keep a resting orchid in full light, dry and un-misted.Follow any instructions given for individual orchids, which may be different depending on where they have been procured.